As the sad procession left the elevator, emerging into the corridor on the second floor, a tall man who was coming down the stairway confronted them. It was Dr. Maitland, the principal of the school! "What's this?" he asked, advancing with swift stride. The doctor hurriedly explained the circumstances. "A motor accident on the Claybrook Road, you say? Well, well! Poor little chap! Who brought him in?" "This lad--one of the schoolboys. You showed good judgment, Blake, and it was a mighty fortunate thing that you were there," observed the surgeon, passing on. "The Claybrook Road?" repeated the puzzled principal. "You were on the Claybrook Road, Blake? And what were you doing there at this time of day?" With throbbing heart Van suddenly came to himself. Up to that instant no thought of his own peculiar plight had crossed his mind. Now the reality of his dilemma rushed upon him with pitiless force. "May I ask," repeated the principal in measured tone, "what were you doing on the Claybrook Road at this hour, Blake?" CHAPTER IX VAN'S GREAT DEED Dr Maitland, who was a man of unswerving justice, was influenced in his judgments neither by pity nor explanations, and thus it came about that when Van had answered his questions, putting before him the facts about his runaway, the principal sent the boy to his own room to there await sentence Van was in the lowest of spirits. What would the penalty of his insurrection be? He knew Dr. Maitland far too well to expect mercy, nor did he wish it. He was too proud for that. He had disobeyed the rules of the school, and he must now bear the punishment, be it what it would. The thought of holding back the facts had never entered his mind. Indolent he sometimes was even to laziness but never within his memory had he been dishonest. So he had fearlessly told the truth, and despite the calamity it